Unlocking energy supply for business parks

One promising solution lies in aligning energy hubs, particularly on business parks. With over 3,500 business parks across the Netherlands, the societal costs of grid congestion are substantial. From a public interest perspective, there is a strong case for promoting energy hubs. This makes it essential for policymakers to identify which locations offer the greatest potential. In this blog, we present the methodology we have developed to support this process.  

Why the local context matters

The potential of an energy hub is highly dependent on its local context. A region’s suitability for developing an energy hub is influenced by several factors, including: 

• Renewable energy output and electrification potential  
• Grid topography and available capacity 
• Flexible power demand potential 
• High level of organisation and involved stakeholders 

To assess this potential, we have developed a methodology based on Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA): a decision-support tool that evaluates multiple factors to identify optimal solutions in complex scenarios. 
 

Identifying promising locations for energy hubs 

At the heart of our approach is MCA, which enables informed decision-making by weighing several criteria. These attributes are assessed and filtered to identify areas with strong potential for energy hub development. The analysis is illustrative and directional, designed to highlight promising locations and estimate their potential scale. 

Criteria and assigned weights: 

• Net surface area of the business park [ha] – 3

• Current electricity consumption [MWh/year] – 6
• Difference in electricity peak before and after electrification [MW] – 6
• Expected charging demand for Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) [MW] – 6
• Proximity to medium-voltage substation [km] – 1
• Added economic value [€] – 8
• Amount of SDE-supported generation within the MV area [MW] – 4
• Urgency of grid congestion in the MV area [year] – 6

Limitations and next steps 

Our analysis takes a regional perspective and is not detailed enough for precise, case-specific predictions. This underscores the need for further studies to assess specific locations, confirm technical and economic feasibility, and compare collective versus individual measures. 
 
The methodology was first applied in the study 'The Families of Energy Hubs in the Netherlands’, and later expanded for use in the provinces of North Holland and North Brabant. In both cases, the method was combined with bottom-up analyses of business parks and grid topology to identify promising locations for energy hub development. 

Leading the way in energy hub solutions  

We are at the forefront of energy hub implementation, having played a pivotal role in their successful deployment in the Netherlands. This includes identifying the essential technical and organisational building blocks needed for various energy hub types, and developing a tool to quantify and track societal benefits, including peak load reduction and carbon reduction, at regional and national levels.  

Want to know more? Contact our experts or continue reading about energy hubs and learn how we can help your energy resilience by making new energy hubs a reality.